Hi folks,
Got headed to NAC this morning for a quick service visit at MOT before heading on to Phoenix. Finally got to meet up and run with Brad Metzger. Thanks Brad for the loan of the 50-to-40 amp converter.
Naturally, a new problem cropped up last night as I was preparing for our departure this morning. The Hydo-hot won't fire up. Flip the switch and it tries to start, but no flame. I think this is due to a bad nozzle. Had the unit serviced by MOT for the first time a couple of months ago. As part of this, they replaced the nozzle. They had difficulty getting the unit to fire up. Mike Rodgers advised me they had had a batch of bad nozzles delivered in the past, but thought this problem was resolved. They finally got the unit to fire up and then ran it for about an hour to make sure any residue was burnt off. Seemed to work fine until last night.
Obviously, am going to have MOT get this resolved before we head to Phoenix. However, does anyone know if there is a quick temporary fix to this? It's pretty cold here in Tennessee tonight and not much warmer in Meridian, Mississippi tomorrow night. Can the nozzle be cleaned or is this more of an alignment issue? We still have the small electric heater, but that doesn't really keep up.
Also, if we boondock tomorrow night, can the batteries handle the small electric heater if we keep the thermostat low? I plan on placing the generator on autorun, just in case.
Regardless, all this will pass and it's warmer in Phoenix.
Belated Happy New Year to All!
Don
Hi Don, there may not be much you can do to get the Hydro Hot running in short order. It might be the nozzle but it could be the alignment of the spark starter wires or maybe a spark coil or something else. It will take somebody who knows how to diagnose these things and with the test equipment to,figure it out quickly. If MOT can't get you in call Rudy.
The engine will get the HydroHot ready to go in the evening. Some generator time will run heat pumps or heat strips and put some extra heat into the HH. You can run overnight at 55 or so to stretch out your time. If the HH heat reservoir temp gets low then it will just run longer trying to heat the coach.
FWIW usually a worn out nozzle causes smoke. The unit still works. A full stoppage would have to be a clog I would think. There is also a fuel solenoid, light sensor, spark coil, spark electrodes (and their alignment), control box, and perhaps a few other bits that could cause it to completely not work.
Does the electric side still work?
Run the gen?
Seems yours has a 1650 watt element so one or two zones might get warm at 45 degrees outside
Good suggestions and good info, folks. Resorted to running the electric side via the generator and got minimum heat and lukewarm water, but kept everything from freezing. Temps got down to 23 at night in Athens, Tenn and 33 at Meridian, Miss.
Pulled into NAC this afternoon and the folks at MOT worked me in for a quick fix to get the Hydro-Hot back. As suspected, the nozzle was bad. Keith put a new one on and everything was cooking and done within 15 minutes. Now down at FOT campground until my real appointment with MOT on Wednesday.
I asked Keith if there was anything I could have done in case I get stranded in cold weather. He highly recommends carrying a spare nozzle. Walked me through the basics of replacing and will school me in more detail before we depart. Just another reason I "foolishly" drive 1,200 miles each way to have these folks work on the coach.
Thanks again for the suggestions and info, folks.
Safe travels,
Don
If you have the ability to change the nozzle, carry a spare, and think about a spare flame sensor. I keep nozzles, one flame sensor and one control box incase of down AH. The control box is expensive to keep as a spare but my having had one fail makes me try Murphy's law, if I have it I won't need it. Those three things are the main items that can be changed in an emergency. I am sure an expert will want to know what caused a control box failure before toasting a new one. I was just lucky I guess.
I have a spare nozzle and a fuel filter. We have replaced the fuel pump and the spark generator. FOT replaced the control box but there was nothing wrong with the original which is still in use. Flame sensor should be something you can clean. You can get parts from Roger Burke and good advice from Rudy. Basic service is not hard other than getting at mine. Yours may be easier.